i see the point of what u guys are saying pacing wise, but as my introduction into the Gundam universe, I liked how it played out. i got basically a fight of some kind an episode, a bit of tech data here and there to satiate the nerd-beast, and a lot of character development. i wondered why the kids were there as well, but assumed sooner or later the guy would find out Setsuna was a Meister. Hell, I still think that will happen. the last few episodes DID seem to be a shift in gears a bit to quick i thought. Surely they would have a plan for when they were attacked; the whole point of what they were doing was to unite the world against them. Yet they're in an unarmed ship? they have no fall back plan? It felt a bit haphazard to me...
My main let down with the Thrones was they took time away from the main Gundams airspace. I get why it had to happen, they needed to turn the popular opinion against the gundams. I just didnt like the designs much and wanted to see more of the main units.